I think you're taking 7...Nc6 a bit too seriously. Williams on his DVD only claims it's a good suprise weapon to catch out unprepared White players.

But variation-wise you're on the right track. The position after 13.Qxf5 is Williams' main line on the DVD, and he focuses on 13...Bc5 (14.Qh3; 14.b3) and 13...Ne4 intending ...Nxc3 and play against White's weakened queenside.

That was my concern also. I thought that even if i could fing something after 13.Qxf5 (i haven't analysed your idea yet) there is also 10.dxe6 which is simple enough for a safe small edge (also Williams in his book says that) and 10.Qc2!? which also seems to generate some problems for Black.

It is 7...Nc6. The only idea i found is 8.d5 Ne5 9.Nd4 Nxc4 10.Nxe6 Bxe6 11.dxe6 c6 12.Qd3 d5 13.Qxf5 Bc5!? (13...Bb4 14.Qc2! gives William in his Classical Dutch book as slightly better for White but according to the engines here White has a significant advantage after e2-e4!)and now after 14.Qc2 Black can generate some nclear complications with 14...Ng4 but even here White may objectively be better. The problem is that White can play for example 14.Qh3 and now i don't trust Black's position. What is the trick?????

I don't have the book (yet), so I can only speculate: (13.Qxf5) Qe8! 14.Qd3 (now if 14.Qh3? Qg6! comp.; 14.Qc2!? Bc5) 14...Bc5 15.Na4 Bd6 16.e4 Qg6.

Pinning the e4-pawn, with excellent tactical chances. The PC at first gives 17.Nc3 Rae8 18.b3 Ne5 19.Qd4 Nfg4 (19...c5 20.Qd1) 20.f4 as better for White, but 20...Nxh2! 21.Kxh2 Ng4+ 22.Kg1 Qh5 23.Rf3 Rxe6 forces a draw, for example 24.e5 Qh2+ 25.Kf1 Qh5 26.exd6 Nh2+ 27.Kf2 Ng4+ etc., draw.But there are attractive alternatives for White around move 10, so I can understand why the next chapter is titled "The Old Faithful 7...a5!" That's what my brother used to play.

I meant what is the trick for Black? I don't think that after 13.Qxf5 Black has close to adequate play. The problem is that White don't have to find a norrow path but has many possibilities. Also the break with e4 is very very easy to find. So, i suppose that Williams will have another idea or another good 13nth move for Black. Can anyone post what it is? Not the analysis but the main idea so that we can start a conversation here.

It is 7...Nc6. The only idea i found is 8.d5 Ne5 9.Nd4 Nxc4 10.Nxe6 Bxe6 11.dxe6 c6 12.Qd3 d5 13.Qxf5 Bc5!? (13...Bb4 14.Qc2! gives William in his Classical Dutch book as slightly better for White but according to the engines here White has a significant advantage after e2-e4!)and now after 14.Qc2 Black can generate some nclear complications with 14...Ng4 but even here White may objectively be better. The problem is that White can play for example 14.Qh3 and now i don't trust Black's position. What is the trick?????

I'm planning to use the Classical Dutch this weekend to counter my opponent's English opening and there is little chance to enter the main line but i'd like to know what is the new big idea in the 7...Nc6 variation. I have looked at this with Rybka and after 8.d5 Ne5 9.Nd4 Nxc4 10.Nxe6 White is better in all lines. So, can anyone reveal the big idea Mr Williams has after 8.d5?

Thanks for the link. Actually I saw that blog post earlier while I was searching for reviews on the book. I see that someone in the comments mentioned the recent game Bellin - Williams where Black played 1.Nf3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 e5 4.Nc3 c5!? and won nicely in 24 moves. Simon Williams annotated the game on his blog: http://www.gingergm.com/2009/12/18/a-battle-in-the-dutch/

This move seems very risky since Black is behind in development and has to play ...h5 at an early stage. I'll have to look at it more before I draw a conclusion, but it looks like it should mainly be used as a surprise weapon.

I just got the Dangerous Weapons book this afternoon, so I look forward to reading the recommendations. Maybe I will post some thoughts later.

Exactly. You could compare playing this defense to discharging a rusty musket. It may slaughter your enemy, but it could just as well blow up in your face. That's perhaps less true of the Stonewall, but even there Black takes big strategic risks.

But more on topic, I wonder what Black's "dangerous weapons" are supposed to be, given the gradualist character of Black's play in this system. Hmm, let me guess: Leningrad with 9...Nc6 will be among them. But what in the Stonewall?

Also I'm a little interested in the chapter on 1.Nf3 f5 2.d3. I remember thinking that 1.Nf3 f5 2.d3 Nc6 was maybe the best approach, but then I felt like 3.e4 e5 4.d4! transposes to a Vienna that I would not feel comfortable with, even though I'd effectively be playing the White side with the Black pieces!

I had pretty much abandoned 1.Nf3 f5 in favor of the Symmetrical English. (1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5!? is a fun line for Kalishnikov aficionados, covered in Dangerous Weapons: Flank Openings.) Maybe this book will change my mind.

Exactly. You could compare playing this defense to discharging a rusty musket. It may slaughter your enemy, but it could just as well blow up in your face. That's perhaps less true of the Stonewall, but even there Black takes big strategic risks.

But more on topic, I wonder what Black's "dangerous weapons" are supposed to be, given the gradualist character of Black's play in this system. Hmm, let me guess: Leningrad with 9...Nc6 will be among them. But what in the Stonewall?